rovalpituzumab tesirine + dexamethasone

Rovalpituzumab tesirine + dexamethasone is an investigational combination regimen comprising **rovalpituzumab tesirine**, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), and **dexamethasone**, a synthetic glucocorticoid. Rovalpituzumab tesirine is designed to selectively target and bind to **delta-like protein 3 (DLL3)**, a cell surface protein highly expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other neuroendocrine tumors but absent from normal tissue. Upon binding to DLL3, the ADC is internalized, and its **pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer toxin** payload is released within the cancer cell, leading to DNA cross-linking and apoptosis. Dexamethasone in this regimen is given to mitigate ADC-related toxicity, particularly fluid retention and hypersensitivity, and may also provide adjunct antiemetic or anti-inflammatory effects. This combination has been evaluated in clinical settings for relapsed/refractory SCLC and other DLL3-expressing cancers, but development of rovalpituzumab tesirine has since been terminated due to lack of clinical benefit and toxicity concerns[1][2][3][4][5][6].